How to Paraphrase Without Plagiarising - Oxbridge Editing

Paraphrasing is an essential skill for students and writers, allowing you to express someone else’s ideas in your own words while maintaining the original meaning. It is crucial for demonstrating your understanding of the source material, supporting your arguments, and avoiding plagiarism. In this blog post, we will discuss the key steps that will teach you how to paraphrase without plagiarising.

Understand the Source Material

The first step in paraphrasing is to thoroughly understand the source material. Read the text carefully and make sure you grasp the main ideas and concepts. If you don’t understand the content, you’re more likely to misinterpret it or inadvertently copy the original wording.

Identify Key Points

Once you have a good understanding of the source material, identify the key points you want to include in your paraphrase. These are the essential elements of the text that you need to convey in your own words.

Put the Text Aside

After identifying the key points, put the source material aside. This will prevent you from unintentionally copying the original wording and encourage you to express the ideas in your own words.

Write the Paraphrase

Start writing your paraphrase by expressing the key points in your own words. Focus on capturing the meaning and intent of the original text rather than simply substituting words with synonyms. It’s important to maintain the original context and avoid changing the meaning of the text.

Compare with the Original Text

Once you have written your paraphrase, compare it with the original text to ensure that you have accurately conveyed the meaning without copying the original wording. If any phrases or sentences are too similar to the original, revise them to make them more distinct.

Include Proper Citations

Even though you’ve expressed the ideas in your own words, you still need to give credit to the original author. Include proper citations and references according to the citation style you’re using (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). This will help you avoid plagiarism and give credit to the source of the information.

Use Paraphrasing Tools

There are various paraphrasing tools available online that can assist you in rewriting texts. However, it’s important to use these tools judiciously. While they can help you get started, they may not always capture the nuances of the original text, and the resulting paraphrase may lack coherence. Always review and revise the output from these tools to ensure accuracy and clarity.

Perfect Your Paraphrasing Skills

Paraphrasing is a valuable skill that enables you to express someone else’s ideas in your own words while avoiding plagiarism.

If you’re struggling to paraphrase your dissertation or essay effectively or want to ensure your paraphrased text is clear, concise, and free of errors, we are here to help. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your academic and professional writing needs!